Band-cutter and feeder.



J. B. BARTHOLOMEW. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a,1894. RENEWED OCT. 30, 1909.

959,445. Patented May 31,1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. Milli-J9 I J. B. BARTHOLOMEW. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER. APPLICATIONFILED SEPT. 12, 1894. RENEWED OCT. '30, 1909.

959,445. Patented May 31, 1910.

4 8HEETSSHEET 2.

J. B. BARTHOLOMEW. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. s,1894. RENEWED OCT. 30, 1909.

Patented May 31 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, T0 AVERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OI ILLINOIS.

BAND-CUTTER AND FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 31, 1910.

Application filed September 8, 1894, Serial No. 522,437. Renewed October30, 1909. Serial No. 525,552.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. BARTHOLO- new, citizen of the United States,residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Band-Cutters andFeeders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexactdescription of the invention. such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a band cutter and feeder embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is aplanview. from the side opposite that in Fig. 1, the feeder conveyorbeingturned to the folded position. Figs. 5 to 15 are detail views.

In the drawings I have shown a portion of the cylinder end of athreshing machine, sufficient to illustrate the manner of combining myimproved band cutter and feeder, with such 'a machine.

The cutter and feeder is made up of two parts, one being that whichinitially receives the gavels or bundles, and the other the part whicheffects the cutting of the band and the delivery and distribution of thestraw to the cylinder. They are supported on or connected to the frontpart A of the thresher by a frame at B below the cylinder A and concaveA b, 7) indicate uprights on each side, and 6 I) represent sidesills*-connecting them.

B, B indicate the side walls attached to the above described frame,there being a bottom board at and a cover having a top door G and afront door G.

To the frame-work above described there is hinged a supplemental framefor the initial carrier C. having side pieces C C, a tail board C andshafts at c, c with sprocket wheels for receiving power and imparting itto the carrier C This supplemental frame is pivotally connected to theparts above described at its upper forward end as shown at C the partsbeing so shaped and related that the carrier'and its frame can be foldedup into the position shown in Fig. 4 whereby the mechanism is madecompact.

It will be seen that the frame for the car- Fig. 4 is an elevation rierC is so connected to the body of the main casing that when in a loweredor working position its forward end bears closely against the rear endsof the side walls of the said main casing, so that it may be supportedwithout the use of a support at its free end. lVhen placed in anonworking position, or folded back on the main casing, thissupplemental frame rests on the main casing throughout the greaterportion of its length and is thereby supported without any strain on itshinge or pivot connection, at Ci 'hen it is down in a working position,as in Fi 2, the carrier delivers the gavels or bund es to the cuttingand distributing apparatus, the latter being constructed and operated asfollows: F is the main power shaft. It is provided with a loose bandwheelE which is connected by a belt E to the pulley of the threshingcylinder. hen the cylinder is revolving at a relatively slow speed thereis no engagement of wheel E and shaft F, and, consequently, the bandcutting and straw feeding mechanism is thrown out of action. But whenthe speed of the cylinder. and therefore of the wheel E, is raisedsufficiently high the wheel is brought into frictional engagement withthe parts which it drives by means of a wheel or drum 6 keyed to theshaft F, and adapted to engage with the friction shoes 6 carried by thearms 6 These arms are pivoted at e to spokes of wheel E, and each isprovided with an adjustable weight 6 hen the speed of the wheel E risesthe weights 6 v.are thrown outward, and the other ends of the lever orbars 6 are thrown inward, which results in the shoes or blocks 6 beingpressed tightly against the drum or wheel e.' When the speed of thewheel again falls below the predetermined point the springs c act todraw the weighted ends of levers e inward and decrease the frictionexerted by the shoe 6". On the shaft F there is keyed a sprocket wheel dwhich engages with a chain 'K which passes from that 'wheel to thesprocket wheel 0 on the driving shaft 0 of the above described initialcarrier C, and thence to an idler wheel 1 from which it goes and engageswith a wheel on one of the crank shafts to be described and thencebackward to the wheel (I. It will be seen that when the speed of thecylinder is too low for efficiency in threshing all of the feedingmechanism will be stopped.

The shaft F actuates directly the band cutting apparatus which isconstructed and mounted as follows: F., F designate a sewith cranks of acorresponding number, as

cutter bar below the main bar F.

shown in Fig. 10. These bars extend rear-' ward and forward from theshaft, moving freely and without support at their rear ends, but attheir front ends being supported by link carriers F pivoted to theframe-work at F. By employing links of this sort in conjunction with thecrank arranged in the way shown I attain desired results as will be setforth below. To the rear part of each bar F there is secured a metal barf, Fig. 13,which supports the detachable cutters P, f. These haveinclined cutting edges at the front and the rear, they being preferablyof substantially the shape of harvester cutters. f indicates another Itis pivoted at f to the bar f, and at the front end is adjustablysupported by a link 7'', which can be fastened by a pin f, in either ofseveral positions, This front cutter bar f has peculiarly shaped cuttersf at its forward end. The rear edge f of each of these is inclined sothat the cutting action shall be accomplished on the backward stroke ofthe bar, whereas onits forward stroke its action is rather to engagewith, distribute and advance the straw just as it is entering thecylinder chamber. The cutters at f and f may be said to constitute grainfenders and depressors operating to deflect and force the grain downwardas it leaves the carrier C. It will be seen that the cutter bars are soarranged and guided that the rear end of each is carried to a relativelyhigh point so that it can be-elevated above the incoming gavels orbundles, and then descend upon them and drag the rear set of cutters fcarried by the bar f swiftly through them longitudinally to insure thesevering of the bands; and that if those cutters f which are parallelwith the bar should fail to strike and cut the band those at f which areon a line inclined to the bar will as the crank rises and moves rearwardbe brought into such an active position that they will also traverse theline of the band and cut it if it has escaped the others. And to stillfurther guard against an accidental escape the front bar 7' has one ormore similar cutters.

The floor of the cuttin chamber comprises two main parts peculiarlyconstructed and placed. The rear portion H upon which the bundles arefirst delivered lies beneath the cutters f at the rear of the bars F.

. In order that it may impart a forward throw to the bundles, as well aslift them up slightly toward the knives I combine with it reciprocatingmechanism adapted to give it the desired movement. At the front end itis suspended upon links k which lie on the outside of the casing buthave pivot pins which pass through slots therein and support this floorsection H. At the rear it is connected to two levers M which at theircenters are pivoted, at m, to the framework, and at their lower ends areconnected by a shaft or bar p. The sprocket wheel K above referred torotates a. crank shaft M which is connected by pitmen P with the abovementioned bar p When shaft M is rotating the levers M will be vibratedand the table H will be moved forward and back. As shown in Fig. 11, Iprefer to make the main forward portion of the floor H with a flat uppersurface, and, to cause an engagement with the bundles teeth h areinserted into the floor H orare secured to strips which are fastenedthereon. These are inclined forward so that they will have a pushingaction on the straw when moving in that direction, but they will movebackward freely.

h -h are prolonged fingers with their forward ends preferably inclinedor curved up- Ward. They are secured to and project forward from thevibrating table H and act to insure that the bundles shall be held uplong enough to be cut, and then assist in dividing or separating theminto uniform masses across the machine.

The rear end H of the table H is extended backward and curved downwardand formed with a series of ratchet grooves. It acts to catch all theloose grain which may be shaken loose from the bundles as they arecarried forward on the conveyor C, the heads or berries being caught inthe grooves 71. and advanced to the table H by the reciprocations.

The front portion of the floor is indicated by H It rests at the frontedge on the thresher frame adjacent to the concave and slides somewhattoward and from the cylinder. The rear edge is moved forward and backand also up and down by means of .links P which are hung on theaforesaid bar p, and which at their front ends are carried by links orcranks 0 which are connected to the rear art of the floor H At N thereare e ongated fingers inclined sharply forward which perform the finalwork of disintegrating or separating the straws and impelling themtoward the cylinder. These parts N assist in retardingor holding ofstraw as it is advanced. The reciprocating parts above the straw feedthe top parts of the bundle forward more rapidly than the said lowerparts and afford sufficient down pressure to enable the retardingdevices to roperly act, the machine n thls respect di ering from thosewhereln use has been made of a reciprocating pan or board below thestraw and adjacent to the back the lower part of each mass.

- sure and rapidl 'reach the cylinder on lines substantially tangential,and not radial, and therefore the cylinder teeth instantly and rapidlycan remove the grain berries from their heads without interference fromthe straws proper. The retarding of the lower parts'of the straw massesis facilitated by the parts at h which reciprocate oppositely to thoseat N; and although either one of them can beemployed alone I prefer touse the two combined. for with the two sets of parts reciprocating inopposite directions either one or the other is always moving backward,thus furnishing a continuous retarding support to hold the straw up to.the action of the cutting and feeding knives. Furthermore when theplatform Hand table H in their reciprocations move away from each other,the projections 71. and N tear apart and open up the straw so as tocotiperate effectively with the downwardly acting feeding devices todistribute the straw evenly and feed it uniformly to the cylinder. theoverloading of the latter being avoided. I do not limit myself toexactly the form shown at N for these retarding parts, as it is wellknown at this time that others of modified form can be substituted suchas plates or boards having upwardly extending edges at their upper endsso arranged as to temporarily check the straw while the upper parts ofthe bundles or masses are being more rapidly advanced to the cylinder bythe reciprocating bars above. The rear part of this floor H being heldby a hinge like support it can be thrown up so as to permit access tothe cylinder chamber through the large opening at g when necessary tomake repairs, to remove obstructions, etc. This floor or pan receivesthe tailings from the thresher which are brought back from the rearparts (not shown) of the machine by any suitable carrier and deliveredthrough a passage as at Q; and as the floor is rapidly vibrating thesetailings are distributed in a sheet and properly delivered again to thecylinder.

With respect to the parts above described for throwing out. of actionthe bundle carrier, its driver, the cutters, their driver, and the strawspreading devices and their driver, it is to be noted that in othermachines the practice generally is to drive each of these by a separatetrain of parts, and interpose a centrifugally acting speed controller.or stop mechanism between the power parts and the bundlecarrier only,the cutters, and

the straw spreading parts and their drivers not being affected. Theresult of this is that while the bundle carrier may stop, all the otherparts which advance the grain to the thresher continue their motion andcontinue feeding to the cylinder; and serious disadvantages grow out ofthis as the cylinder speed often drops low and the incoming masses ofstraw choke it. \Vith a machine of the character of that herein and ofthe usual size there will generally be between the end of the carrier Cand the cylinder from four to six large bundles of grain. If the cuttingand feeding devices are allowed to continue with a' falling motion ofthe cylinder the result is unavoidably the crowding of a large mass ofgrain into the cylinder chamber, this in many cases so effectuallyclogging and stopping the cylinder as shaft- M, etc.) are allsimultaneously thrown out of action. ltloreover this is accomplished bydevices which not only stop the action of the cutters and cylinderfeeding parts quickly, but which also (when the cylinder speed againcomes up to the predetermined limit) gradually start all of these parts.It is necessary try so start them. when they are heavily loaded and thefriction clutch which I interpose between the cylinder shaft and thecutting and feeding mechanism is greatly superior to the suddenly actingpin clutches or ratchet and dog devices that have been used in othermachines. The two wheels E, e are respectively connected permanentlywith the driving and driven parts and are so related that they can bereadily disconnected quickly by the centrifugally gov erned clutchcontroller and as readily connected gradually. By placing these wheelsand the governor weights directly on the cutter shaft provide not only,as described, the means for connecting and disconnecting, but alsofurnish a momentum generating part which insures a smooth and uniformmovement of the cutters notwithstanding their reciprocating movementsand notwithstandingthe fact that there are frequent severe variations intheir wort.

It will be seen that the forward or inner ends of the cutter bars.,areheld by nonrot-ary supports or guides, they being in this instance thelinks F These are in cpntrast with and operate materially different fromthe supports of the other style which have been used or proposed forthis purpose, namely a second setof cranks. In some earlier machines thereciprocating cutter carriers were suspended upon and actuated by twotransverse similar crank shafts. These act to impart complete rotationsto both ends of the cutter carriers, the latter being carried in suchway as to be kept at all times in positions of parallelism.' As

the cranks rise they lift both ends in similar paths to positions wellabove the bundles or straw masses, and as they descend they cause thecutters of the entire series to operate alike. But in the presentmachine, the cutters atthe rear end of the cutter carrier have at alltimes a very different movement from that of those at the forward orinner end. The crank is connected with the cutter carriers at pointsremote from the rear or outer end, and therefore said end can be liftedwell up for the entrance of the incoming bundle and an effective cuttingblow can be struck as it descends; and at the same time the cutters atthe front or inner end are held in such paths that they are constantlyready to engage with the straw for advancing and spreading it. The pathsof the rear cutters are curved lines approximately elliptical in shapewith their longer axes approximately vertical; and the paths of thefront or inner cutters are also 011 curved lines approximating fiatellipses with their longer axes approximately horizontal. In thisrespect there can be considerablemodification within limits withoutdeparting from the principle of construction and operation of themachine. These de sired paths for the cutters at the rear or outer endsof the carriers can" be best attained by pivoting the carriers directlyto the cranks without the interposition of links, which latter plan hasbeen sometimes followed, such links having a tendency to carry the rearcutters in paths whose longer axes are horizontal rather than vertical,thus decreasing the entrance for the bundles and increasing theliability of the cutters to first suddenly engage 011 longitudinal lineswith the bundles and jerk or thrust them toward the cylinder. .And solong as this direct hinging of the cutter carrier to the cranks ismaintained there can be variation in the construction of the carriersand in their positions relative to the crank shafts. The downward andforward blows or impacts from the cutters and the feeders adjacent tothe cylinder are not received in any way by the endless carrier as hasbeen the case in other machines, the straw holding parts in thisconstruction which act when the cutting and spreading occurs being, asabove described, 0 the nature of floors with table-like supports at thebottom from which rise the projections or teeth and the retardingdevices above described. Of course some of the advantages can beretained if the straw be delivered to the second table H by a propellingdevice other than one like that at H provided that the cutting device bearranged substantially as is herein shown, that is to say, so as to besituated in and move across the planes of the adjacent ends of thereciprocating table H and the table or carrier which delivers the strawto it. The straw approaches a narrowed throat or passage-way between therear endof the table H and the cutters, the table or carrier precedingthat at H extending on lines which tend to approach those of thecutters, while the carrier or table H recedes from them. By having thestraw advancing parts at H and H imperforate as shown the grain which isloosened by the blows of the descending cutter and cutter carrier isprevented from dropping downward and caused to advance to the cylinder.

By having the cutter carrier arranged to not only reciprocatelongitudinally but to rise and fall vertically toward and from thetables I avoid the necessity of lifting the bundles over any longdistance, while they are on .the first table, in order to reach theknives; the machine being superior in this respect to those in whichrotary cutters on a stationary shaft were used together with devices forlifting the bundles, such devices having been used together with anendless carrier, the lifter passing it through perforations or slots inthe table 0 the endless carrier.

In Fig. 15 I have shown the character of the paths followed by thecutters as a result of the manner in which the cutter carrier issupported, and in which the cutters are disposed thereon, all inaccordance with the description above presented.

IVhat I claim is 1. The combination with the independently mountedreciprocating tables H, H the former situated approximately horizontal,and the latter being inclined therefrom downwardly, and the crank shaftF above the adjacent ends of the said tables, of the bars F connected tothe said crank shaft, the links for supporting the bars, and the cuttersbelow the bars, each bar having a series of cutters situated on a lineapproximating parallelism with the table H, and a series of cutters onanother line approxlmating parallelism with the table H substantially asset forth.

'2. In a band cutter and feeder the herein described cutter bars Fhaving a series of cutters 1 approximately parallel with the bar, andcutters f on a line inclined thereto, and mechanism substantially as setforth for imparting a combined rotary and reciprocating motion to saidbars, as described.

3. In a band cutter, the combination with the cutter bars free at theirrear ends and the crank shaft connected to said bars intermediately oftheir ends, of the supplemental cutter-supporting bars extendingdownward from the barsF', and the links F at the front ends of the bars,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the main cutter bars F, means for imparting arotary'movement to the rear ends of said bars and a longitudinalreciprocating movement at their front ends, the cutter bars f eachsupported by and below one of the bars F and means for adjustingvertically the bars 7' at one end, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the straw supporting and advancing deviceshaving a rear part approximately horizontal and a front part inclined tothe rear part, of the cutter bars F having cutters f over the rear partof the support, and cutters f situated over the front inclined part ofthe said support and formed each with an inclined edge at the rear and avertical edge at the front,

and means for imparting a continuous orrotational movement to the rearpart of the bars F and a reversing or oscillatory movement to the frontpart thereof, substantially as set forth.

6. In a band ,cutter and feeder, the combination with the longitudinallyreciprocating bars F, each bar having a series of cutters,

. of the floor section H provided with a series of forwardly inclinedprojections or fingers h, for engaging with and advancing the strawdelivered to such floor section, and at its forward end with a series ofcurved fingers or projections h for retarding the forward movement ofthe lower portions of the straw delivered to said table, and guiding ittoward the bars F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7 In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the cutting andfeeding mechanism, of the two longitudinally and oppositelyreciprocating floor sections below the cutting mechanism, the section Hhaving a series of projections h on its upper surface, for advancingstraw delivered thereto, and having at its forward end a series ofprolonged fingers h, the free ends of which extend over the rear end ofthe section H and are bent or curved upwardly, to retard the, passage ofstraw from the section H, and the section H having near its rear end-a.

series of fingers N which lie between the fingers h and extendsubstantially parallel to the upwardly curved portions thereof,substantially as set forth.

8. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of thereciprocating floor section H having at its inner end the relativelyprolonged fingers h adapted to hold the straw while the bands are beingcut, and the inner reciprocating table H having the prolonged fingers Nprojecting upwardly and inwardly and arranged to retard the under sideof the mass of straw, and the band cutting mechanism arranged above thesection H and the fingers or arms h, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the reciprocating table H for the bundles, havingthe feeding fingers h, and having means at the front end for retardingthe bundles of straw until the bands are cut, the inner 'eciprocatingtable H having the relatively prolonged -upwardly projecting fingers Nadapted to enter the masses of straw and retard the under side thereofafter the bands are cut, the band cutting mechanism above the table H,and the reciprocating fingers or arms over the. table H and above thestraw, and adapted to push forward the straw in the upper parts of themasses while that on the lower side is being held back by the fingers N,substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with the cutters having a combined reciprocating androtary movement, of the two longitudinally and oppositely reciprocatingfloor SQCiIOIIS below the cutters, the section H being provided at itsforward end with the horizontally elongated forwardly projecting fingersh" and the forward section H being provided with the inclined elongatedforwardly porjecting fingers N arranged below the fingers h,substantially as set forth.

11. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of the crank shaft F,the links F on the cylinder side of said shaft, and extending to pointsbelow the crank shaft, the

cutter bars F mounted on the cranks of the shaft F and hinged to saidlinks F the cutters on the under side of the said bars F, the verticallyand longitudinally reciprocat: ing table H relatively near a horizontalplane, the table H in a plane more remote from the horizontal andinclined toward the concave, and means for reciprocating the table Hoppositely to the table H, substantially as set forth.

12. In g band cutter and feeder, the combination "fwith thereciprocating cutting mechanism, of the reciprocating table H arrangedbelow the cutting, mechanism and connected with independent rockingdevices at its' forward andrear ends those at the front end beinghangers entending upwardly from "the table, the rocking devices at therear end being relatively shorter than those at the forward end ofsaidtable, and means at the forward end of said table for retardingthepassage of material therefrom and supported while the bands are beingcut, and a straw support in advance of the said straw table inclineddownward toward the threshing cylinder at an angle different from thatof the straw receiving and supporting table, the series of cutterscarried by each bar being arranged above the sand straw table andinclined straw support and disposed so as to act upon the strawsupported by each of the said parts, substantially as set forth.

11f. In a band cutter and feeder, the com bination of a cutter bar, aseries of cutters 7 connected to the rear portion of said bar, a seriesof cutters 7 supported by said bar in advance of and on a line inclineddownward from the line of the first said cutters, f, means forsimultaneously reciprocating the cutter bar and rocking it about an axisintermediate of its length and a straw advancing support arranged belowthe cutters and having a forward part inclined downward and disposedunder the cutters f and a rear part disposed under the cutters f andhaving an inclination different from that of the said forward inclinedpart, substantially as set forth.

15. ha band cutterand feeder, the combination of a crank shaft, thecutter bars directly journaled to the cranks of the said shaft at pointsintermediate of the ends of the bars, the outer ends of the bars beingfree, non-rotary guides for the inner ends of the bars, cutters securedto the aforesaid bars, supplemental bars secured to thejournaled barsand extending to points below the inner ends thereof and inclined inwardand downward therefrom, and cutters carried by the lower inclined barsin front of the crank-shaft, substantially as set forth.

16. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of a crankshaft, the

cutter bars directly journaled to the cranks of said shaft at pointsintermediate of their ends, the rear ends of the bars being free,non-rotary guides for the front ends of the bars, the reciprocatingstraw supporting and propelling floor below the cutter bars having I atable-like support at the bottom and a series of longitudinally arrangedsets of projections extending upward from the tablelike bottom part,said projections being arranged substantially as set forth to form arelatively reduced passage-way for the straw below the cutters at atransverse line in front of the crank shaft and below the cutters, and avertically expanding passage way between said reduced passage-way andthe threshing cylinder.

17. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of a reciprocatorycutter bar, a series of cutters connected to said bar and adapted to acton the forward movement thereof, another set of cutters moving with thebar and adapted to act on the rearward movement thereof, means foradjusting the last said cutters, and means for rocking the cut-- ter barabout an axis near the adjustable cutters as said bar is reciprocated,substan tially as set forth.

18. In a band cutter and feeder, the com-' bination of a reciprocatingbar, a series of cutters f, f, stationarily secured to said bar, saidcutters 7' extending along a line approximately parallel to the bar andthose at f extending in a line inclined thereto, and supplementalcutters supported by the bar in advance of those aforesaid and adaptedto be adjusted toward and from said bar, substantially as set forth.

19. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of the support overwhich the straw moves in passing to the threshing mechanism, the cutterbars above the straw support and driving and guiding means constructedand arranged to give to said bars at one end a continuous or rotationalmovement in planes substantially normal to the straw support and attheir other ends a reversing or oscillatory movement, substantially asset forth.

20. In a band cutter and feeder the combination of the initial carrier,the reciprocating table receiving the straw from the carrier, the secondtable between the table aforesaid and the cylinder, the crank shaft, theseries of sets of longitudinally reciprocating cutters, each cutter sethaving a bar or carrier directly journaled to a crank on said shaft, anon-rotary support for the inner end of the cutter carrier, some of thecutters on said carrier being between the vertical plane of the crankshaft and the rear end of the cutter carrier, and some between saidplane and the front end of the cutter carrier, whereby the cutters ofthe rear end of the carrier are carried through curvilinear paths withtheir longer axes approximately vertical above the outer reciprocatingtable, while the cutters at the other end are carried throughcurvilinear paths with their longer axes approximately horizontal andover the second table, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination with the threshing cylinder, of means adjacent tothe cylinder for feeding the straw directly thereto, comprising meansbelow the straw for engaging and advancing it toward the cylinder,advancing means arranged to act upon the straw from above and adapted toadvance the straw more rapidly than the first-mentioned advancing means,and backwardly movable retarding devices arranged below the straw and inproximity to the downwardly acting advancing means and constructed ontheir backward movement to engage and retard the straw, substantially asset forth.

22. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination with thecutting mechanism of the supporting and advancing mechanism comprisingthe reciprocating floor section H having at its inner end for wardlyextending projections, the inner downwardly inclined reciprocating tableH having at its outer end projections extending upwardly in proximity tothe first -mentioned projections, and means for reciprocating saidtables simultaneously in opposite directions, substantially as setforth.

23. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination, with theband cutters, of the two longitudinally and oppositely reciprocatingtables arranged in the same longitudinal lines, each having asubstantially imperfora-te straw and grain supporting floor, the firsttable being arranged in approximately horizontal planes and adapted todeliver the straw to the second. and the second arranged on planesinclined downward to the cylinder and adapted to deliver straw thereto,and means for reciprocating each table toward and from the other,substantially as set forth.

24:. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination, with thecutting apparatus, of the two longitudinally reciprocating mutuallybalancing tables arranged in the same longitudinal lines, each havlng afloor extending continuously from side. to side thereof, the first beingarranged to agitate the straw and deliver it to the second, and thesecond arranged to agitate the straw and deliver it to the cylinder,substantially as set forth.

25. 'In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of the twolongitudinally reciprocating tables arranged in the same longitudinallines, the reciprocating cutters, and the cutter carrier moving bodilyvertically toward and from the said tables,

whereby the vertical elevation of the bundles by the tables relativelyto the knives is decreased, substantially as set forth. a

26. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of the twolongitudinally reciprocating tables arranged in the same longitudinalhnes, the first table delivering the straw to the second, and the seconddelivering it to the cylinder, and longitudinally reciprocating bandcutters arranged in a series extending longitudinally across thevertical planes of the adjacent ends of the tables, substantially as setforth.

27 In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of the twolongitudinally reciprocating tablesarranged in the same longitudinallines, the first table advaneing the straw along approximatelyhorizontal lines, and delivering it to the second,

- and the second advancing it on inclined lines and delivering it to thecylinder, and the longitudinally arranged reciprocating cutting andfeeding J apparatus arranged above both the said tables, substantiallyas set forth.

28. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the'combination of the twolongitudinally reciprocating tables arranged in the same longitudinallines, the first table advancing the straw approximately horizontallyand delivering it to the second. and the second table advancing thestraw on inclined lines and delivering it to the cylinder, andlongitudinally reciprocating band cutters. arranged in a series whichextends longitudinally from points above one of said tables to pointsabove the other, the cutters above the first table rising and fallingvertically over distances greater than the vertical movement of thecutters over the second table, substantially as set forth.

29. In a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of twolongitudinally reciprocating straw supporting tables below the straw,having their adjacent ends overlapping, a cutter and a cutter carrier.arranged to rise from and fall towardthe said tables, the said tablesbeing imperforate below the cutter carrier, whereby the grain loosenedby the blows of the cutter is carried to the cylinder with the straw,substantially as set forth.

30. I11 a band cutting and feeding mechanism, the combination of anendless carrier for advancing the bundles, two longitudinallyreciprocating tables to which the bundles are delivered, one beingarranged in advance of the other and both in the same longitudinallines, the first table being substantially horizontal and the secondtable inclined, and the longitudinally reciprocating band cuttersarranged across the vertical plane of the adjacent ends of the saidtables, substantially as set forth.

31. In a band cutting and threshing mechanism, the combination with thethreshing cylinder and the concave, of the crankshaft, the reciprocatingcutters carried thereby ar- 110 ranged to act upon the straw from above,a reciprocating platform which supports the bundlesof straw while thebands are being severed, a reciprocating table arranged between the saidreciprocating platform and 115 the threshing cylinder, and means forsimultaneously reciprocating said platform and the table in oppositedirections, substantially as set forth.

32. In a band cutting and threshing mechanism, the combination with thethreshing cylinder and the concave, of the crank shaft,

the threshing cylinder, means for acting upon the straw from above tofeed it toward the threshing cylinder while upon the said reciprocatingtable, means for acting upon the straw from below to retard the lowerportions of the straw mass while upon the said reciprocating table, andmeans for simultaneously reciprocating said platform and table inopposite directions, substantially as set forth.

3%. In a band cutting and threshing mechanism, the combination with thethreshing cylinder and concave, of the crank shaft, the

reciprocating cutters carried thereby arranged to act upon the strawfrom above, a

reciprocating platform which supports the bundles of straw while thebands are being severed, a reciprocating table arranged between .thesaid platform and the threshing cylinder, means for acting upon thestraw from above to feed it toward the threshing cylinder while upon thesaid reciprocating table, means for acting upon the straw from below toretard the lower portions of the straw while upon the said reciprocatingtable, and means for operating the said supporting platform andreciprocating, table,

substantially as set forth.

35. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of the reciprocatingplatform for supporting and advancing the straw while the bands arebeing severed, the inclined table between the said platform and thethreshing mechanism, the crank shaft, the series of sets oflongitudinally reciprocating cutter bars operated by the crank shaft,nonrotary supports for the inner ends of the cutter bars, cutterscarried by said bars above and adapted to co-act with the platform, andstraw feeders carried by said bars above and adapted to co-act with theinclined table, substantially as set forth. I

36. In a band cutter and feeder, the combmation of reciprocating barscarrying band-severing knives, an approximately horizontal reciprocatingplatform under the reciprocating bars to support and advance the strawwhile the bands are being severed, an inclined table leading from thesaid reciprocating pl tform to the threshing cylmder, and means foradvancing the straw while on the said inclined table, comprising movablemeans for engaging the straw from below and relatively faster movingmeans for engaging the straw from above, substantially as set forth. 7

37. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the initial bundlecarrier and the threshing mechanism, of the supports over which thestraw moves in passing between the said carrier and threshing mechanism,a cross shaft formed with a plurality of cranks, longitudinally arrangedbars journaled to the cranks of the said shaft intermediate their ends,said bars being free at one end, non-rotary supports for the other endsof the bars, and straw cutters and feeders carried by the said bars andarranged longitudinally thereof, substantially as set forth.

38. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the threshingcylinder and concave, of the cutter shaft, the cutters operated therebyand arranged to act u on the straw from above, a reciprocating p atformwhich supports the straw while the bands are being severed, areciprocating table ar-- ranged between thesaid platform and thethreshing mechanism, means for simultaneously reciprocating the saidplatform and table, and means for acting upon the straw from above tofeed it toward the threshing mechanism while upon the said table, suchmeans being approximately parallel with the table, substantially as setforth.

39. Ina band cutter and feeder, the combination of the reciprocatingsupport over which the straw passes, a series of forwardly inclinedfingers carried thereby, a series of retarding fingers arranged adjacentto and in front of the forwardlyinclined fingers, and the cutters forsevering the bands arranged above the reciprocating support and to therear of the retarding fingers, substantially as set forth.

40. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of the reciprocatingsup ort over which the straw passes, a series of orwardly inclinedfingers carried thereby, a series of retarding fingers arranged adjacentto and in front of the forwardly inclined fingers, means acting upon thestraw from above to carry it over the said retarding fingers and towardthe threshing mechanism, and cutters for severing the bands arrangedabove the reciprocating support and to the rear of the retardingfingers, substantially as set forth.

41. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of the cutters, asupport for the straw while the bands are being severed, supports forthe straw over which it passes in moving from the cutters to thethreshing mechanism, means for lifting the straw from the surface of thelast mentioned supports and feeding means for acting upon the straw fromabove while so lifted, substantially as set forth.

42. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of a crank shaft,cutter bars directly journaled to the cranks of the said shaft at pointsintermediate of the ends of the bars, the outer ends of the bars beingfree, non-rotary guides for the innerends of the bars, supplemental barsconnected to the cutter bars and extending downward and inwardtherefrom, and feeders for the straw carried by the said supplementalbars in front of the crank shaft, substantially as set forth.

43. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination of a crank shaft, alongitudinally arranged cutter bar journaled to the crank of the shaft,a non-rotary sup ort for the front end of the bar, a series 0 cutterscarried by the rear part of the cutter bar, and a second series ofcutters carried by the cutter bar in advance of, and on a line inclineddownward from the linev of the first series of cutters, substantially asset forth.

44. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the threshingmechanism, of the support over which the straw moves in passin to thethreshing mechanism, a crossshaft ormed with a plurality of cranks,longitudinally arranged bars pivotally connected intermediate their endsto the cranks of the said shafts, said bars being free at one end,non-rotary supports for the other ends of the bars, and cutters carriedby the said bars and arranged longitudinally thereof.

45. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the threshingmechanism, of the support over which the straw moves in passing to thethreshing mechanism, a crossshaft formed with a plurality of cranks,bars pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the cranks of thesaid shafts, said bars being free at one end, non-rotary supports forthe other ends of the bars, and cutters carried by the said bars.

46. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the threshingmechanism, of the support over which the straw moves in passing to thethreshing mechanism, a crossshaft formed with a plurality of cranks,longitudinally arranged bars pivotally connected intermediate their endsto the cranks of the said shafts, said bars being free at one end,non-rotary supports for the other ends of the bars, and feeders carriedby the said bars and arranged longitudinally thereof.

47. In a band cutter and feeder, the combination with the threshingmechanism, of the support over which the straw moves in passing to thethreshing mechanism, a crossshaft formed with a plurality of cranks,bars pivotally connected intermediate their ends to the cranks of thesaid shaft, said bars being free at one end, non-rotary supports for theother end of the bars, and feeders carried by the said bars.

48. In threshing apparatus, the combination with the threshing cylinder,of the initial carrier for the bundles, the cross-shaft formed with aplurality of cranks intermediate the cylinder and carrier, the barspivotally connected intermediate their ends to said cranks, said barsbeing free at one end, non-rotary supports for the other ends of thebars, and straw engaging members carried by the said bars, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture, in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN B. BARTHOLOMEW.

Witnesses:

H. N. BLAOKMON, GEORGE F. CARSON.

